Patriotism III

I think patriotism is a great and essential feeling to have while jingoism is not. There is an important distinction between both the feelings. No country in the world is all good or all evil. It is not black and white but mostly gray just like us human beings. Also, people make the country, not its policies nor its politicians. While I don't like people who are jingoists and think theirs is the best country and the best way of life; likewise, I don't like people who dislike their country just because they see only the negative side. I can't help but feel a better idea is to accept one's country with its good and bad points and loving it. In the meantime, one can always try and change what the bad points are. That is one reasons I abhor the extreme left and right. They are so fanatical but they don't realize they are mirror images of each other, almost like two sides of the same coin.